The Direct Economic Effects of Stricter Standards Towards the Protection of Human and Animal Health in Swine Sector

The objective of this study is to present the results of a research carried out on a group of farms involved in pig fattening (48 farms) to evaluate the economic impact of implementing human and animal health regulation. The five types considered in any case represent 90-95% of the total health costs, there are therefore economies of scale and considering the types of expenditure, veterinary medicines have a strong incidence on fattening farms, together with medicated feed for consumption on the farm and the control of Aujeszky's disease. The overall health costs have on average reached the 2% of total costs and the same value of the net income.Human health, Animal health, Standards, Economic impact, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Exploring the Potential Competition in the Salmon Industry: a Scenario Analysis of Genetically Modified Fish Marketing

Marketing, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Consumer preferences for country-of-origin and health claim labelling of extra-virgin olive-oil

Although several studies have investigated consumer preferences for olive oil country-of-origin labelling (COOL), very little is known on consumers’ preferences for new health claims (EC Reg. n. 1924/2006). This paper aims to analyse the introduction of these attributes, providing more insights into Italian consumer perception and preferences for different extra-virgin olive oil labelling schemes. After preliminary focus group and in-depth personal interviews with representatives of retailers and producers’ organizations, a choice experiment (CE) was employed on a sample of Italian consumers to analyse preferences for different extra-virgin olive oils. CE methodology allows to weight the relative importance of any given attribute for consumers, measuring the effects of interaction between different attributes. It can also provide an estimation of the marginal willingness to pay (WTP), or part-worth, of an attribute, such as health claim or indication of origin. The results provide supply chain actors with valuable information to develop marketing strategies, as well as concrete evidence for policy makers of consumers understanding of health claims and COOL labelling.choice experiment (CE), extra-virgin olive oil, health claims, country-of-origin labelling (COOL)., Marketing,

Sustainable Wine Labeling: A Framework for Definition and Consumers' Perception

AbstractIn the last twenty years there has been a large interest in sustainable winegrowing initiatives worldwide. As a consequence, the wine sector has seen the growth of "environmentally-friendly" and ethical claims according to specific eco-certification schemes and labelling programs. Thus, sustainable claims are becoming credence attributes that compete with other quality indications on a wine label and might influence the choice, the quality perception and willingness to pay (WTP). The objective of this study is twofold: first, to explore the concept of consumers' perception of sustainable wine and second, to investigate different cluster groups based on three factors identified (belief about environmental protection, beliefs about sustainable wine certification and attitude towards sustainable labelled wine) and WTP

Exploring young foodies׳ knowledge and attitude regarding entomophagy: A qualitative study in Italy

Abstract Edible insects as a food source might help feeding poor developing countries and at the same time be a complementary food/ingredient for developed countries. However, in the Western countries the majority of people refuse the idea of eating insects, for mainly cultural reasons. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the expectations about entomophagy from a specific target group (foodies) composed by people studying Gastronomy and Food Science. The study was held at the University of Parma (Italy) in April 2015 and consisted in a student engagement with a so-called "bug banquet" with a cookie made with "insect flour". Results show that almost all the sample tasted the product and is willing to try other edible insects in the future. Curiosity is the most important reason to choose to try the cookie made with cricket flour; whereas negative opinions of family members and friends and the disgust factor may prevent Western consumers from eating insects in the future. However, whether edible insects will increase their acceptability will also depend heavily on market availability (regulatory framework), food category (e.g., bakery product with insect flour) marketing strategies, gastronomy (preparation), culinary trends and education

Sensory‐liking Expectations and Perceptions of Processed and Unprocessed Insect Products

The aim of this study was to investigate how sensory‐liking attribute perceptions (appearance, taste and organoleptic characteristics) can change between a readily visible vs a processed insect product before and after tasting. Results indicate that texture and appearance of the insect are perceived as stronger barriers than the taste attribute. Moreover, both unprocessed and processed insect‐based products generate more positive perceptions after tasting compared to expectations. The positive experience of tasting products with both visible and processed insect may lead consumers to reconsider their initial negative expectations and attitude towards entomophagy

Strategies to Promote Healthy Eating Among University Students: A Qualitative Study Using the Nominal Group Technique

Introduction: The years spent at university are critical in terms of altering people’s dietary patterns. This study aimed to: (1) understand the main dietary changes that students experience after starting university; (2) determine the personal and objective factors that hinder healthy eating, and (3) define possible strategies to facilitate healthier diets among university students. Methods: The nominal group technique (NGT) was used to elicit ideas from 39 students from the University of Parma, Italy. The sample comprised 16 freshmen and 23 non-freshmen. Participants prioritized and weighed their top five ideas regarding dietary changes, barriers to healthy eating, and possible strategies to maintain a healthy diet. A thematic analysis was conducted to compare the priorities across groups. Results: Forty-three themes were elected as the most significant changes related to diet, 39 themes related to personal barriers, 43 themes related to objective barriers, and 55 themes related to strategies. A lack of time for cooking, low financial availability, consumption of unvaried food or junk food, and gaining knowledge about food were identified as the main changes. Personal barriers to eating healthy were intrinsic (i.e., lack of willpower, personal gluttony, and little effort in cooking preparation), poor dietary information, and a busy lifestyle.Market and financial factors (i.e., the high price of healthy products and low financial availability), as well as social factors (i.e., the negative influence of social networks, childhood food education, and origin/tradition), emerged as objective barriers. Possible strategies that could encourage students to adopt a healthy diet include varying the food products offered in university canteens, including organizing spaces where students who prepare meals from home can warm up and eat their food. Student discounts at supermarkets and information on nutrition and a healthy diet were also identified as important ways of supporting students. Conclusion and Implication for Practice: In order to make students part of the solution, the NGT provided them with the opportunity to equally contribute their ideas and opinions about having a healthy diet in a university context. This could potentially lead to tailor-made solutions for policymakers, educators, and foodservice providers in promoting healthy eating habits

Traceability perception of beef: a comparison between Spanish and Italian consumers

Nowadays, the increasing demand by customers and consumers for information on food quality and safety determines, to a certain degree, the structure of the food chain. Traceability is considered as a tool to reach and keep consumers' confidence, which became a central issue to restore consumers' confidence in beef safety after the BSE crisis that strongly affected the EU market. Numerous researches have been carried out to determine consumers' preferences related to quality and food safety. However, the consumer perception of beef traceability has not yet been studied enough. In this paper we want to investigate the perception of Italian and Spanish consumers on this issue by analysing the results of six focus groups carried out in both countries, in the framework of an EU project (TRACE- Tracing the origin of food) funded through the Food and Quality Priority of the EU Framework VI research programme. The differences and similarities in consumers' perception are analysed on the basis of the different product valorisation approach followed by the national supply chain in order to promote beef quality and safety. Finally, the paper shows the necessity to organise the supply chain product development and differentiation strategies in a consumer - based way.traceability, focus group, beef market, supply chain valorisation strategies, consumer perception, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Acute radial head replacement with bipolar prostheses: midterm results

In irreparable radial head fractures, especially if primary stabilizers of the elbow are damaged, the prosthetic replacement prevents instability and stiffness. Concerns have arisen over the use of bipolar press-fit prostheses due to the frequent finding of osteolysis and the risk of instability if compared to monopolar implants. Our aim was to assess midterm clinical and radiological outcomes of bipolar implants and the influence of osteolysis on proximal pain. Seventeen patients with irreparable fractures of the radial head, treated in acute with the same prosthetic model (rHEAD recon SBI/Stryker) between January 2015 and December 2018, were enrolled. Clinical assessment was performed using MEPS and DASH scores; a radiographic study was done to identify heterotopic ossifications and periprosthetic osteolysis. Outcomes at the last follow-up, according to MEPS, were excellent in 10 cases, good in 5 and fair in 2; none of the patients had severe pain or instability. In 3 cases, it was necessary to remove the implant, mainly because of early loosening. Radiological findings of osteolysis were detected in 9 cases, but no statistical correlation was found with MEPS and proximal pain. The use of bipolar implants is reliable if an accurate repair of ligament tears is performed and provides a good stability. Nevertheless, the risk of early aseptic loosening in uncemented implants is not negligible, and the follow-up of the patient must be strict. Late osteolysis does not seem to have clinical relevance, but further prospective studies are necessary to clarify this topic

Effects of nonselective and selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors on the contractions of isolated bronchial smooth muscle in the horse

We evaluated the effects of nonselective cyclooxygenase (COX)-1/COX-2 inhibitors (acetylsalicylic acid, indomethacin, ibuprofen, flunixin meglumine, phenylbutazone), preferential COX-2 inhibitors (diclofenac, meloxicam, carprofen), selective COX-1 inhibitor (SC-560), and selective COX-2 inhibitors (celecoxib, firocoxib, parecoxib) on the contractions of isolated bronchi induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS). Bronchial rings, obtained from lungs of slaughtered horses, were put in isolated organ baths, and the mechanical activity was measured by means of isotonic transducers. Electrical Field Stimulation was applied to the preparations, and the effects of drugs on the amplitude of evoked contractions were measured. Nonselective COX inhibitors did not modify EFS-induced contractions to a relevant degree, except indomethacin which caused a concentration-dependent decrease of the contraction amplitude. Conversely, preferential COX-2 inhibitors enhanced the contractions in a concentration-related fashion, whilst the selective COX-1 inhibitor reduced them. Among selective COX-2 inhibitors, parecoxib increased EFS-evoked contractions whereas celecoxib and firocoxib were ineffective. These results suggest that the inhibition of prostanoid synthesis does not modify the electrical field-stimulated contractions of isolated horse bronchi. Since EFS-induced contractions of horse bronchi were previously shown to be of full cholinergic nature, the increase caused by diclofenac, meloxicam, carprofen, and parecoxib could be due to an inhibition of acetylcholinesterase; in accordance, these drugs potentiated exogenous acetylcholine-induced but not carbachol-induced bronchial contraction. Indomethacin and SC-560 might instead decrease bronchial contractions by inhibiting calcium currents. Clinical use of meloxicam and carprofen in horses with bronchial hyper-responsiveness requires caution for a potential risk of causing adverse effects due to bronchoconstriction